Editorial: End-of-session agenda

Published 8:50 am, Sunday, June 2, 2013

Eleven days, senators and members of the Assembly. That's how much time is left to salvage a legislative session that seems to have been distinguished more by scandal than by accomplishment.

Passage of some major legislation that shows lawmakers really do have the interests of New Yorkers at heart would go a long way toward restoring a sense of public trust that, in case they didn't notice, is lower than ever. It used to be that most people thought the Legislature was bad, but their guy was OK. Now citizens tell pollsters that they wouldn't be surprised if their own state representative was the next to have his or her mug shot taken.

All the more reason to prove them wrong, right? So, here's the agenda: eight issues to get done before legislators leave town.

Election and campaign finance reform: Fixing New York's political framework might well be the single most selfless thing the Legislature can do. Yes, it would make it harder for incumbents to get re-elected. Yes, it would remove the influence of well-heeled donors and special interests to which too many lawmakers are beholden.

But a solid package that includes lower contribution limits and public financing of campaigns would rebalance New York's political system to give ordinary people — and their small contributions — greater significance in the electoral process. Better rules and tighter restrictions on how campaign money is spent, and a stronger, less political enforcement process would at least begin to remove the taint on this state's politics. And curtailing the unlimited money that can be given to political parties' "housekeeping accounts" would close a wide-open back door that allows people to get around even the currently too-generous donations limits to candidates.

A women's agenda: Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out some common sense, progressive ideas in his State of the State message to treat women more decently and equally in the workplace, better safeguard them from violence and housing and financial discrimination, and enshrine in state health law their right to an abortion. It's time for Mr. Cuomo and the Legislature to put this all into bill language, ignore the relatively few reactionary voices determined to turn back the clock on Roe v. Wade, and pass this package.

Farmworker rights: Year after year, Republicans in the state Senate have stood against humanitarian efforts to give farmworkers fundamental protections against poor and exploitative working conditions. This stonewalling of simple human dignity is indefensible. Surely it's possible to craft a bill that achieves these goals and still allows farms to thrive.

Medical marijuana: For too long, politicians have injected themselves into the doctor-patient relationship, refusing to legalize marijuana for medical use. This, despite a growing consensus among physicians that the drug has legitimate medical use to relieve pain and nausea for sufferers of cancer, glaucoma and other ailments. This week, Mr. Cuomo and lawmakers will receive a letter from more than 600 doctors calling for this restriction on their medical judgment to be lifted. It's time for lawmakers to stop playing doctor and follow the guidance of people who actually know what they're talking about.

Low-level marijuana violations: Through an absurd loophole in the law, a person who obeys a police order to empty his pockets and reveals a small amount of marijuana faces a criminal charge for publicly displaying the drug, even though the same quantity of pot would have qualified for a non-criminal violation if it was found by the officer in a search. This loophole has saddled too many young people, especially minorities, with criminal records that haunt them for life. This has to stop.

Tax-Free NY: The governor in May unveiled a proposal to create tax- free zones on SUNY campuses, and some other locations, to encourage new business and jobs, especially upstate. We repeat our call for the Legislature to fast-track its evaluation of this idea and, unless there are sound reasons otherwise, to approve it this session.

GENDA: The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act would protect one of the last groups that some people think it's OK to discriminate against — those whose gender identity is not the one nature gave them. They harm no one. They are as entitled to be treated fairly in housing, health care, public accommodation and employment as anyone else. They deserve society's protection.

Redistricting: We haven't forgotten how lawmakers reneged on their promise three years ago to create an independent panel to draw political districts, then pulled a bait-and-switch and drafted a constitutional amendment that still keeps politicians in the process, albeit once removed. The Legislature should be ashamed to try to insert its petty political interests into the state constitution. With the amendment not going to voters until 2014, and not really needed until after the next federal census in 2020, there is still time to go back to the bill-drafting board and get this right.

Eleven days, senators and members of the Assembly. New Yorkers are waiting. And watching.

The Capitol's to-do list:

Eleven legislative work days remain before the 2013 session ends June 20. Here are the top tasks lawmakers need to get done: